Ethylamine → 2-Ethylamino-3-methoxypropionaldehyde

The dimethyl acetal of 2-chloro-3-methoxypropionaldehyde (0.1 mole) and toluene (75 ml) are charged into a glass reaction vessel equipped with a mechanical stirrer, thermometer and reflux condenser. Ethylamine (0.22 mole) is added to the reaction mixture with stirring at room temperature. Stirring is continued for a period of about 15 minutes. After this time the reaction mixture is heated at reflux for a period of about 1 hour. The reaction mixture is then cooled to room temperature and filtered. The filtrate is stripped of toluene and unreacted starting material under reduced pressure to yield the desired product the dimethyl acetal of 2-ethylamino-3-methoxypropionaldehyde as the residue.